Part of seventh century casket, depicting the pan-Germanic legend of Weyland Smith, which was apparently also a part of Anglo-Saxon pagan mythology.
Early Christianity developed in an era of the Roman Empire during which many religions were practiced, that are, due to the lack of a better term, labeled paganism. Paganism, in spite of its etymological meaning of rural, has a number of distinct meanings. It refers to the Greco-Roman religions of the Roman Empire period, including the Roman imperial cult, the various mystery religions, as well as philosophic monotheistic religions such as Neoplatonism and Gnosticism and the tribal religions practiced on the fringes of the Empire.
From the point of view of the early Christians these religions all qualified as ethnic (or gentile, ethnikos, gentilis, the term translating goyim, later rendered as paganus) in contrast with Judaism. Since the Council of Jerusalem, the Christian apostles accepted both Jewish and pagan converts, and there was a precarious balance between the Jewish believers, insisting on the obedience to the Torah Laws by all Christians, on one hand, and Gentile Christians, developed in the gentile missionary context, on the other.
Christianity during the Middle Ages stood in opposition to the pagan ethnic religions of the peoples outside the former Roman Empire, i.e. Germanic paganism, Slavic paganism etc.
In the course of the Christianisation of Europe in the Early Middle Ages, the Christian churches adopted many elements of national cult and folk religion, resulting in national churches like Latin, Germanic, Russian, Armenian, Greek
and so on. Some Pagan ceremonies were brought in and the festivals
became modern holidays as pagans joined the early church. The Pagan vernal equinox celebration was 'Christianized' and then referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord and celebrated as the Feast of the Annunciation. The Germanic Pagan solstice celebrations (Midsummer festivals) are also sometimes referred to by Neopagans and others as Litha, stemming from Bede's De temporum ratione
and the fire festival or Lith- Summer solstice was a tradition for many
pagans. This pagan holiday was basically brought in and given a name
change, and in Christianity was then associated with the nativity of John the Baptist, which now is observed on the same day, June 24, in the Catholic, Orthodox and some Protestant churches. It is six months before Christmas because Luke 1:26 and Luke 1.36 imply that John the Baptist was born six months earlier than Jesus, although the Bible does not say at which time of the year this happened.[1]
The practices were allowed or supported by some such as Clement of Alexandria,
(c. AD 150-215) who explains that "prayers are offered while looking
toward sunrise in the East" because the Orient represents the birth of
light that "dispels the darkness of the night" and because of the
orientation of "the ancient temples."[2] or Origen (c. AD 185-254), according to whom with the East symbolizes the soul that looks to the source of light.[3]
One goal of the Reformation was to return the Christian churches to the state of early Christianity. Restorationists such as Jehovah's Witnesses continue to argue that mainstream Christianity has departed from Apostolic Christianity due, in part, to such Pagan influences.[citation needed] See also Great Apostasy.
Getting all the facts. Click on this link now
Illu pituitary pineal glands.jpg
Diagram of pituitary and pineal glands in the human brain
Latin glandula pinealis
Gray's subject #276 1277
Artery posterior cerebral artery
Precursor Neural Ectoderm, Roof of Diencephalon
MeSH Pineal+gland
The pineal gland (also called the pineal body, epiphysis cerebri, epiphysis, conarium or the "third eye") is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It produces the serotonin derivative melatonin, a hormone that affects the modulation of wake/sleep patterns and seasonal functions.[1][2] Its shape resembles a tiny pine cone (hence its name), and it is located near the centre of the brain, between the two hemispheres, tucked in a groove where the two rounded thalamic bodies join.
Nearly all vertebrate species possess a pineal gland. The most important exception is the hagfish, which is often thought of as the most primitive type of vertebrate.[3] Even in the hagfish, though, there may be a "pineal equivalent" structure in the dorsal diencephalon.[4] The lancelet amphioxus, the nearest existing relative to vertebrates, also lacks a recognizable pineal gland.[3] The lamprey, however (considered almost as primitive as the hagfish), does possess one.[3] A few "higher" types of vertebrates, including the alligator, lack pineal glands because they have been lost over the course of evolution.[5]
Contents
1 Location Get More Information About the Third Eye Click this link
About CANSWERSTV: Christian Answers of Austin, Texas
Check out our websites:
www.BIBLEQUERY.ORG
(Answers 8000 Bible questions & answers arguments used by
critics. Our newsletters are here also, click on the "Experience" box on
the homepage & scroll down.)
www.HISTORYCART.COM
(This site covers early Christian church history & doctrine. See
our YOUTUBE video series, "Early Christian Church History."
www.MUSLIMHOPE.COM
(Examines the truth claims of Muhammad's Islamic religion from primary Muslim sources.)
www.BEREANBEACON.ORG
(By former Roman Catholic priest for 22 years Richard Bennett)
www.PILGRIMPUBLICATIONS.COM
(Leading publisher of the works of Charles Haddon Spurgeon - type "SPURGEON BIOGRAPHY LIBRARY" in the YOUTUBE search box)
www.CWRC-RZ.ORG
(A Christian Witness to Roman Catholicism by Rob Zins, Th.M, Dallas Theological Seminary)
www.KJVONLY.ORG
(Refutation of King James Onlyism - see video "BIBLE TRANSLATION ISSUE")
Contact us:
CDEBATER@AOL.COM
"One life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."
"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven"
The ascension of the Messiah into heaven as it was documented by Luke in his second epistle to Theophilus (see The Epistles: Acts):
"1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus [see The Epistles: Luke], of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he
through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he
had chosen: 1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after
his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days,
and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God [see The Constitution Of The Kingdom Of God and The Church In The Kingdom Of God]:
1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them
that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of
the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence [see The Fruit Of Pentecost and Pentecost: Unto The Morrow After The Seventh Sabbath].
1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of
him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel? [see Israel In History and Prophecy: Roman Judea; also Israel In History and Prophecy: Israel and Judah, Israel In History and Prophecy: The Zealots and Israel In History and Prophecy: Aelia Capitolina] 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power [see The Two Signs Of Christ's Return and the Fact Finder question below]. 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee [see also The Cities Of Lake Galilee],
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up
from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him
go into heaven. 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet [see When And Where Your Eternal Life Will Begin], which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey." (Acts 1:1-9 KJV)
The prophet Daniel was also given to see the ascension, centuries before
it happened. Notice how, while Luke recorded "he was taken up; and a
cloud received him out of their sight" for the departure, Daniel records the subsequent arrival with the same miraculous clouds, "the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven."
"7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the
Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of
days, and they brought him near before him. 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him [see The Coming World Dictator]:
his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and
his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (Daniel 7:13-14 KJV)
Daniel was given the prophetic vision of the Messiah's ascension within a
wider prophecy, of not only the "beast" power that killed the Christ,
but which will still exist on the day of His return - when His wrath
will come upon it.
"7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a
fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had
great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the
residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that
were before it; and it had ten horns [see What Is The Mark Of The Beast? and What And Where Is Babylon Today?].
7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among
them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first
horns plucked up by the roots [see The Little Big Horn]: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient
of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his
head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels as burning fire.
7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him:
thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were
opened [see The Roll Of The Book; also Is God Using Electronic Books Now?]. 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake [see Blaspheming The Name Of God]: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame [see The Lake Of Fire Into An Ocean Of Fire - When?]. 7:12
As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken
away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time." (Daniel
7:7-12 KJV)
As we will read, the authority that the Messiah was given after He
ascended to heaven and appeared before the Throne of God, authorizes Him
to do what he's going to do when He returns when faced with a defiant
world that will attempt to fight Him ("I saw the beast, and the kings of
the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him
that sat on the horse, and against his army," verse 19 below). The
"rules of engagement" are written in a scroll that the Messiah possesses
today.
"19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and
he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness
he doth judge and make war.
19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were
many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he
himself. 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God [see What Does Word of God Mean To You?]. 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean [see Legions Of Men And Angels]. 19:15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite
the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth
the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God [see What Is The Day Of The LORD?]. 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried
with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of
heaven [see also Are We In Heaven Now?], Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 19:18
That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the
flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on
them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and
great. 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and
their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the
horse, and against his army [see A History Of Jerusalem: War And Peace]. 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him [see also What's The Bible Word For False Prophet?],
with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast,
and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a
lake of fire burning with brimstone. 19:21 And the remnant
were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword
proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their
flesh." (Revelation 19:11-21 KJV)
"Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David , hath
prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof"
The fourth and fifth chapters of the "book" of Revelation (which was actually written as a scroll and an epistle; see The Epistles: Revelation)
document the Messiah's arrival before the Throne of God. The fourth
chapter describes God the Father on His Throne, awaiting the return of
the LORD God (contrary to the ideas of human artists, the Father would
hardly look like an old man with a white beard, as is typically
portrayed; God is ageless, never getting "old" - The Father could
just as well appear as a young man as an old one). Interestingly, John
seems to be describing a "speaker" when his vision begins i.e. "the
first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me."
"4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in
heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet
talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things
which must be hereafter.
4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a
sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight
like unto an emerald. 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting [see also What Did The Elders Of Israel Do?], clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 4:5
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:
and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are
the seven Spirits of God. 4:6 And before the throne there was
a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and
round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast
like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth
beast was like a flying eagle. 4:8 And the four beasts had
each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and
they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come [see Who Is The LORD?]. 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 4:10
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne,
and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns
before the throne, saying, 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created [see The First Act Of Faith]." (Revelation 4:1-11 KJV)
In God's Hand was "a book written within and on the backside, sealed
with seven seals." It was a very special "book" (i.e. a scroll) whereby
it was to be given only to someone who accomplished the mission of a
Messiah.
"5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David [see Israel In History and Prophecy: Roots and Branches], hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." (Revelation 5:1-5 KJV)
The Messiah, known as the human Jesus of Nazareth, then arrived by His ascension, with the victorious Blood of His Sacrifice.
"5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of
the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had
been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the
throne. 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts
and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one
of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of
saints.
5:9 And they sung a new song, saying,
Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for
thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every
kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation [see Day of Atonement: The Messiah's Deliverance]; 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:6-10 KJV)
The Messiah was then granted the authority for His return, and what He
was to do upon it; all of that was written in the scroll that the Father
gave to the one Who qualified Himself to receive it (see Day of Atonement: The Messiah's Deliverance).
"5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels
round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of
them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 5:12 Saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing [see Nisan 14: The Sacrifice Of The Lamb Of God]. 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth,
and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in
them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty
elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."
(Revelation 5:11-14 KJV)
The Levitical high priesthood was established by Jesus Christ, "the LORD God" (see The Origin Of The Levite Priesthood)
for the sole purpose of portraying the prophecy of the Messiah's coming
Sacrifice and Atonement. Although the Levites later lost sight of their
purpose, the Messiah never lost sight of His purpose (see How Did The Messiah's Levite Priesthood Change?).
"10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and
not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which
they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto
perfect. 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be
offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no
more conscience of sins. 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins [see The Blood Of Bulls And Goats].
10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt
offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure
therein; which are offered by the law; 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." (Hebrews 10:1-13 KJV)
So it will be that the Messiah will return, on the day that the Father
has decided, as written in the scroll that is sealed by seven seals. The
first four of those seals will be the famous "four horsemen of the
apocalypse."
"6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I
heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying,
Come and see. 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he
that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went
forth conquering, and to conquer.
6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 6:4
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to
him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should
kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third
beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that
sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6:6 And I
heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat
for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt
not the oil and the wine. 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that
sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given
unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and
with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."
(Revelation 6:1-8 KJV)
Fact Finder: What is in the seven
seals of the scroll that the Messiah, the LORD God, now holds, as He
sits at the right hand of God The Father?
See The Seals Of Prophecy; also What Is The Day Of The LORD?
This Day In History, September 27 1066: William the Conqueror and his forces set sail from the mouth of the Somme River to begin the Norman Conquest of England. 1290: An earthquake in China killed 100,000 people. 1331: The Battle of Plowce between the forces of the Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Order. 1396: Thousands of Church of Rome "Crusaders" (see Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy) who had been taken prisoner by Ottoman (i.e. Turkish; listen to our Sermon The Ottoman Empire)
forces under Sultan Bayazid at the Battle of Nicopolis the day before
were beheaded. Among those executed were members of the royal families
of France, Germany and Burgundy.
The Ottoman Empire was one of the longest in human history. It occupied a
vast area of Europe and the Middle East, including the land of Israel,
for centuries. It was the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the British
Empire that permitted the present-day state of "Israel" (which is
actually Judah; see Israel In History and Prophecy: Israel Of Judah) to come into existence (see A History Of Jerusalem: The British Mandate). 1529: The Siege of Vienna began when Suleiman I attacked the city (see also A History Of Jerusalem: Constantine and Muhammad). 1540: The Church of Rome's Pope Paul III gave approval to
Ignatius Loyola for the founding of the Society of Jesus, known as the
Jesuits (see Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy). 1590: Pope Urban VII died 13 days after becoming Pope, making his reign the shortest papacy in history (see also The Struggle For The Papacy). 1605: The armies of Sweden were defeated by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Battle of Kircholm. 1669: The island of Crete in The Mediterranean Sea fell to the Ottomans after a 21-year siege. 1785: The "Episcopal Church" in the U.S. was founded when
Anglicans met in Philadelphia to create a denomination independent of
the Church of England. The Episcopalians left (but continued the
erroneous doctrines of) the Church of England, that left (but continued
the erroneous doctrines of) the Church of Rome. All 3 were and are
"state religions" (i.e. the Church of Rome, the Church of England, the Episcopal Church" of the United States) that deny the Biblical Truth of the Church of God - which knows and recognizes no man-made political boundaries (see also What Is The Church? and What And Where Is Babylon Today?; also A Biography Of Abraham: Abrahamic Religions). 1791: Jews in France were granted French citizenship. 1821: Mexico declared independence from Spain (Texas succeeded from Mexico 15 years later, in 1836). 1822: Jean-François Champollion announced that he had deciphered the Rosetta stone. 1825: In England, the first locomotive to haul a passenger train was operated by George Stephenson. 1854: The first great disaster involving an Atlantic Ocean liner occurred when the steamship Arctic sank with 300 people aboard. 1905: The physics journal Annalen der Physik received
Albert Einstein's paper "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its
Energy Content?." The paper introduced Einstein's famous E=mc2 equation. 1918: During the First World War (listen to our Sermon The European World Wars),
Canadian commandos stormed the Canal du Nord, a section of the German
Hindenburg Line, capturing over 7,000 prisoners and 205 artillery guns. 1923: Martial law was declared in Germany. 1939: Warsaw, Poland capitulated to the invading German forces (see Presidential Quotes On War, Terrorism, Religion). 1959: A typhoon battered the Japanese island of Honshu, killing almost 5,000 people. 1964: The Warren Commission released the official report of its
investigation of the assassination of President John Kennedy with the
conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald was the shooter and that he acted
alone. "Conspiracy theorists" continue to disagree with the findings
with various counter-claims e.g. Oswald could not have fired shots from 2
different directions at the same time, FBI marksmen found it nearly
impossible to repeat the rate of fire and accuracy using Oswald's cheap,
bolt-action rifle that, as well, was later found to have a bent sight
that would have caused Oswald to fire nearly a foot above, and to the
left, of Kennedy's head at that range. 1970: King Hussein of Jordan and Al Fatah guerrilla leader Yasser
Arafat met in Cairo with 10 Arab chiefs of state and signed an
agreement ending civil war in Jordan. 1996: In Afghanistan, Taliban forces seized control of Kabul and hanged former President Najibullah.
"He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs,
being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to
the Kingdom of God"
Nisan is the first month of the Biblical calendar (see The New Moon Calendar).
The Messiah was crucified during the afternoon of Nisan 14 (a Wednesday
that year). His Body was placed in the Tomb just before sunset as Nisan
15 was about to begin (Biblical days begin and end at sunset). The
mandatory "three days and three nights" in the Tomb were fulfilled on
Nisan 15, 16 and 17 (sunset Wednesday to sunset Saturday that year). The
resurrection happened exactly 72 hours later, in the last minutes of
Nisan 17 - the seventh day of the week. The empty tomb and the risen
Messiah were discovered very early the next morning on Nisan 18, the
first day of the week that year (see Nisan 18: I Ascend Unto My Father for a complete, hour by hour chronology of the Messiah's Crucifixion and Resurrection).
But what did the Messiah do from the time of His Resurrection until His Ascension forty days later?
As documented by the Holy Scriptures, the already-empty Tomb was discovered early on the first day of the week.
"20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early,
when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away
from the sepulchre.
20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved [i.e. John; see also What Did Peter and John See That Others Didn't?], and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie [see also The Linen Of The Saints],
20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." (John 20:1-9 KJV)
Mary of Magdala (Magdala was a fishing village on the west coast of the
Sea of Galilee; the Messiah lived at Capernaum, a fishing village on the
north coast of the Sea of Galilee; see also The Cities Of Lake Galilee) was the first human to see and speak with the resurrected Messiah.
"20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie [see also The Linen Of The Saints],
20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." (John 20:1-9 KJV)
Mary of Magdala (Magdala was a fishing village on the west coast of the
Sea of Galilee; the Messiah lived at Capernaum, a fishing village on the
north coast of the Sea of Galilee; see also The Cities Of Lake Galilee) was the first human to see and speak with the resurrected Messiah.
"20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?
She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?
She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have
borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him
away. 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary.
She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni ["Rabboni" is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew "Rabbi"; see The Syrian Tongue Of Jesus]; which is to say, Master. 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father [see Pentecost: Unto The Morrow After The Seventh Sabbath
to understand why the Messiah said that, an why He said it on that
particular day]: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto
my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had
seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her." (John
20:10-18 KJV)
Keeping in mind that Biblical days begin and end at sunset, as evening
came to end the first day of the week, the Lamb of God appeared to the
apostles (then still disciples, which means students) for the first time after His Resurrection.
"20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of
the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled
for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto
them, Peace be unto you.
20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto
them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John
20:19-23 KJV)
Thomas was not yet present when the Messiah first appeared to the others. His first meeting with the Messiah came 8 days later.
"20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.
But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the
nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand
into his side, I will not believe. 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within,
and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood
in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and
behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:
and be not faithless, but believing. 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen
me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet
have believed. 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name." (John 20:24-31 KJV)
Not long afterward, the apostles made their way home, north to Galilee.
At least four of them were fishermen, so they returned to work to make a
living. It was after an all-night fishing shift that the Messiah again
appeared to them.
"21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called
Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and
two other of his disciples.
21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say
unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship
immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?
They answered him, No. 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of
the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not
able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto
Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast
himself into the sea.
21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they
were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging
the net with fishes.
21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of
great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so
many, yet was not the net broken.
21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to
his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead." (John 21:1-14
KJV)
Peter had courageously attempted to defend the Messiah from the mob that
came to arrest Him, but when Jesus told him to stop, Peter did not
understand. That confusion caused him to deny even knowing the Messiah
after His arrest. The restoration of Peter's faith was confirmed that
morning, along with a prophecy that, when his work was done, Peter would
be martyred by crucifixion (see Why Was Peter Crucified?).
"21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou
me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest
that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young,
thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou
shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall
gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should
glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me."
(John 21:15-19 KJV)
"21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom
Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and
said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21:21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that
that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not
die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 21:24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did,
the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the
world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."
(John 21:20-25 KJV)
"1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he
through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he
had chosen:
1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by
many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of
the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them
that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of
the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of
him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel? 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is
come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and
in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing
up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,
shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts
1:1-11 KJV)
This Day In History, March 31 307: After divorcing Minervina, Roman Emperor Constantine (see Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy) married Fausta, the daughter of the former Roman Emperor Maximian. 1084: Clement III, who was elected antipope (see Antipopes) in 1080, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor (see Emperors and Popes). 1492: In the same year that they employed Christopher Columbus to explore the "new world" (see Thanksgiving In History and Prophecy
a map of the four voyages of Columbus) King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella of Spain (their youngest daughter, Catherine of Aragon was the
first wife of King Henry VIII of England; their divorce eventually
resulted in Henry breaking away from the Church of Rome and creating his
own Church of England) began enforcing their Edict of Expulsion. All
Jews in Spain who would not accept immediate conversion to Roman
Catholicism were to be physically put out of the country. About 100,000
trudged across the frontier into Portugal, where they were in turn
expelled 4 years later; 50,000 went across the straits into North
Africa, or by ship to Turkey. About 50,000 chose to become Catholics and
remain, including the senior rabbi and most of the leading families. By
the end of July, the expulsion of those who would not convert was an
accomplished fact. The destruction of Spanish Jewry is considered by
some to be the most momentous event in Jewish history since the
mid-second century A.D. 1889: The Eiffel Tower in Paris was opened. 1854: The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed between the U.S. and
Japan. Signed under an offshore show of threatening U.S. naval force
commanded by Admiral William Perry, it opened Japan-U.S. trade. 1889: The Eiffel Tower in Paris was officially opened to the public. 1909: Construction of RMS Titanic began at the Harland and
Wolff shipyards in Belfast. The "unsinkable" ocean liner sank on its
first voyage, less than three hours after scraping an iceberg in the
North Atlantic. 1917: The U.S. purchased some of the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million. 1939: All fighting ceased in the three year Spanish Civil War,
completing a victory by Fascist forces, who were assisted by German
pilots, more than 50,000 Italian troops and other pro-Fascist volunteers
against Spanish republicans. The Second World War began a few months
later, in September, when Germany invaded Poland. 1949: The British colony of Newfoundland joined Canada as the 10th province. 1949: Winston Churchill said that the atomic bomb was the only thing that kept the Soviet Union from taking over Europe. 1954: The Soviet Union offered to join NATO. 1966: The Soviet Union launched Luna 10. It became the first space vehicle to orbit the Moon. 1971: Lt. William Calley was sentenced to life imprisonment
(later reduced to 20 years, of which he actually served almost nothing
before being quietly released) for the My-Lai massacre of 500 women and
children in Vietnam. 1979: The military relationship between Britain and Malta ended after 181 years with the departure of the destroyer HMS London from Valetta Harbor. 1991: The Warsaw Pact formally ceased to exist.
Christianity portal
